The Eighth Wonder of the World: The Atlantic Cable
Kimmel & Forster, 254 -256 Canal Street, New York: 1866
Lithograph, uncolored
18.75 x 23.5 inches, overall
14.5 x 16.25 inches, image including text
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Eighth Wonder of the World: The Atlantic Cable
Lithograph, 1866
Lithograph, 1866
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Allegorical print celebrating the completion of the Atlantic Cable in 1866, referred to in the title as the eighth wonder of the world. The cable is illustrated extending from the paws of a lion, symbolizing Great Britain, to the talons of an eagle, symbolizing the United States. A legend extending along the cable is printed: "Valencia Bay, July 26 th 1866 congratulate you heartily all well here." An attempt to lay the underwater portion of the Atlantic Cable-between Valentia, Ireland, and Heart's Content, Newfoundland-had been made in 1865, but cable was lost 700 nautical miles from Newfoundland. The following year, the Great Eastern Company recovered the lost cable from the bottom of the sea- no small feat with the technology available at the time - and completed the job.
The scene is set within an oval cable border. It is surmounted by a portrait of Cyrus W. Field, the promoter of the cable, in the top center, flanked by the British and American flags. A portrait of Neptune, the Roman god of the seas, decorates the bottom center above the date 1866. The bustling ports of London and Manhattan shimmer in the distance on either side of a compressed view of the ocean, with clock towers highlighting the difference in time zone between the two cities now connected via instant communication.
Each spandrel corner features a small view: "Manufacturing the Cabel [sic.]," "Loading the Cable," "Valentia, Ireland," and "Hearts Content, New Foundland."
In the lower margin, statements by Cyrus Field and U.S. President Andrew Johnson are shown as follows:
"Heart's Content, July 27 th , 1866 .
I hope that it will prove a blessing to England, and the United States, and increase the intercourse between our Country & the Eastern Hemisphere.
Yours Faithfully
Cyrus W. Field."
"Washington, July 29th, 1866. To Cyrus W. Field, Heart's Content:
May the Cable under the sea tend to promote harmony between the Republic of the West and the Governments of the Eastern Hemisphere.
Andrew Johnson."
This lithograph is listed in America on Stone, which also reports that Kim mel & Forster published at least one other Atlantic cable lithograph, as well as Civil War and genre prints, in the mid 1860s.
Christopher Kimmel (b. 1830) was a German-born engraver, lithographer and printer, active in New York City from 1850 to 1876. He was with Capewell & Kimmel from 1853 to 1860, and later with Kimmel & Forster and Kimmel & Voight.
References:
Glover, Bill. "History of the Atlantic Cable and Submarine Telegraphy: Recovery of the Lost Cable." Atlantic-Cable.com. 2003. http://atlantic-cable.com/Article/1866Recovery/index.htm (7 October 2003).
Groce, George C. and Wallace, David H. The New-York Historical Society's Dictionary of Artists in America 1564-1860. New Haven : Yale University Press, 1969. p. 370.
Peters, Harry T. America on Stone. U.S. : Doubleday, Doran, 1931. p. 251.